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Baker manages to get Phillips two days off

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Phillips' solo home run 0:43

5/1/13: Brandon Phillips cuts into the Cardinals' lead with a solo home run to left in the ninth, collecting his second RBI of the game

By Mark Sheldon
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MLB.com |

CHICAGO -- Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips was not in Friday's lineup vs. the Cubs. Cesar Izturis started at second base while Todd Frazier moved up two spots to bat in Phillips' usual No. 4 spot.

Reds manager Dusty Baker likes to give veterans a day off before or after a scheduled day off for the team.

"He's playing his butt off. I told him before the series started in St. Louis that I was going to try and get him two days in a row," Baker said. "I hate to [rest him with] the way he's playing."

Phillips entered the day batting .289 with five home runs and a team-leading 26 RBIs. He had a homer and an RBI double during Wednesday's loss at St. Louis.

"The last game he was responsible for both of our runs. But you've got to do what's best for the long run," Baker said. "It's going to keep him strong, productive."

Frazier had an RBI double and walked, and Izturis walked twice.

Mark Sheldon is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Mark My Word, and follow him on Twitter @m_sheldon. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.